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William M. Plemmons Born in Buncombe Co. on Feb. 10, 1939 Departed on Dec. 15, 2003 WILLIAM M. "BILL" PLEMMONS Pastor William M. "Bill" Plemmons, of Israel Road, Candler, passed away quietly on Monday, December 15, 2003, after a courageous battle with esophageal adenocarcinoma. He was 64 years old. A 1957 graduate of Enka High School, Bill also graduated in 1972 Magna cum Laude from Western Carolina University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He earned the degree while working full time at American Enka (now BASF). He retired as a 20-year volunteer with Upper Hominy Volunteer Fire Department. He also retired as superintendent of Caprolactam Recovery at BASF in 1993, and answered God's call on his life to serve Him alone from that day forward. Bill served as Pastor of Pisgah Vineyard Christian Fellowship (www.pisgahvcf.org) until his death. The joy of the LORD was his strength, and even when he was at his weakest he shared his love of Jesus and Jesus' love for others with everyone around him. No one who met him went away untouched by his gentle, quiet spirit, and his deep, deep love for his Father. He was a kind and gentle man whose favorite phrase was "Do you know God loves you?" While serving in the US Army in Ethiopia from 1962 until 1964, Bill took the initiative to begin building schools for Ethiopian children, and to teach the Ethiopian people the basics of farming so they could become self-supporting. The work which he and his friends began there grew into an international relief organization known as "Lalmba" (www.lalmba.org), which still ministers to the poor and orphaned in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya and other parts of Africa. Every aspect of his life reflected his servant's heart. He took delight in feeding the homeless in Asheville, in serving families from a food pantry hosted by Pisgah Vineyard, or in simply listening to and caring for others. His heart was bigger than the mountains which he called home. And his affect on those around him will never be forgotten. Bill is survived by his life-long love, his wife of almost 42 years, Barbara Chapman Plemmons. His daughters, Bethany Plemmons Robinson and Cindy Plemmons Lovingood also survive, as do his son-in-law, Calvin Robinson and his grandchildren, Sierra, Meredith and Mackenzie Robinson, and Christian and Tori Lovingood. They all reside in Candler. His love for his family was second only to his love for his heavenly Father; he relished the time spent with his children and his grandchildren, who will miss their "Papa" and the joy he brought them. His mother, Ruby Justice Plemmons, of Asheville, also survives him. His father, Merlin J. Plemmons and two brothers, Bobby and Ben Plemmons preceded him in death. His surviving siblings include J. Michael Plemmons and his wife Deborah and Chris Messer and her husband Jim of Candler and Anne Kirkland and her husband Kenny and Helen Thompson and her husband Jack of Georgia. The family will receive friends Tuesday, December 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. His funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, at the funeral home chapel with Pastor Billy Robertson, Bill's much-loved brother in the LORD, officiating. Interment will follow at Pisgah View Memorial Park in Candler. Pallbearers will be David Trull, Michael Trull, Harold Ball, Brian Messer, Gene Messer, Vaughn Smith, Kenny Kirkland, and David Lovingood. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill's dear friend, Norval Hensley and the men who served alongside Pastor Bill at Pisgah Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
Those
wishing to remember Bill with
charitable donations may send them
to:
"I am the vine; you are the
branches. If a man remains in me
and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing." |
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